Episodes

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares insights on building and maintaining a great organizational culture that drives business success. Understanding Culture as a Business Model (01:21) - Steve explains how culture can be a dynamic and profitable business model, moving beyond superficial perks to create a meaningful work environment. Evaluating Organizational Culture (04:04) - Learn about the methods Indigo Road Hospit...

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares how hospitality transformed his life and the principles that guide his company today. Listen now to learn about: Steve's Early Experience with Hospitality (01:43) - the profound advice from his mentor, Chris Goss, that shaped his view on hospitality. The True Meaning of Hospitality (00:02:52) - Steve's light bulb moment about the true meaning of hospitality and how it differs from...

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his inspiring journey to sobriety and how it has influenced his approach to developing a supportive culture within his company. What You'll Learn: Steve Palmer's Personal Journey to Sobriety (01:17) - his early struggles with addiction and the pivotal moment that led him to choose rehab over losing his job. Challenges of Sobriety in the Hospitality Industry (02:10) - the difficulties o...

In this episode, we're joined by Jen Worthington, co-founder of Play Social. Jen shares her incredible journey from being a film producer to opening the highest-grossing bar per square foot in the country, and now creating unique, playful experiences at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Jen's Background and Career Transition (01:19) - how Jen transitioned from a successful film producer to a hospitality entrepreneur. Opening the Coyote Ugly Bar (02:01...

In this episode, Kate Gagliardi, Complex Executive Chef for the Asbury Collection, shares her unique journey from finance to culinary leadership and offers insights on what it takes to create a positive work environment. You'll learn about: Kate's Career Journey (00:42) - Hear about Kate's transition from finance to becoming an executive chef. Creating a Positive Work Culture (01:03) - Learn how Kate encourages her teams to be creative, bold, and take care of themselves. Differences Between ...

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie shares his thoughts and reflections on the 2024 NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, covering: The Importance of Capital in Hospitality (0:43) - why staying close to the world of owners and investors is crucial for operational success. Current State of the Lodging Economy (1:15) - an overview of the U.S. lodging and travel economy, including STR's downgraded outlook and the split impact on different chain scales. Geopolitical Risks an...

In this episode, we're joined by Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean, who shares what he sees as the danger of private equity in the hospitality business today. You'll learn about: The Role of Private Equity (PE) in Hospitality: Understand the dynamics of PE ownership in hospitality operating platforms and why it often leads to overvaluation - and undervaluation - in critical areas. Challenges of Scaling: Discover why scaling beyond a certain number of hotels can lead to diminishing r...

In this episode, we're joined by Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean, who shares his experience and insights on what it takes to successfully transition into managing a new hotel, and ensure both the staff and the property thrive under new leadership. Listen now to learn about: The Importance of Associates: Discover why the associates are the first priority in any hotel takeover and how to manage their fears and expectations during the transition. Effective Communication: Learn about ...

In this episode, Sarah Gulla and Justin Epps from the Hospitality Asset Managers Association join us to discuss the role of hotel asset managers in the hospitality ecosystem - and the results of a recent industry outlook survey they conducted. What You'll Learn: Role of Hotel Asset Managers: Understand the pivotal role hotel asset managers play in influencing behaviors, managing managers, and setting strategic directions for hotel investments. Hospitality Asset Managers Association: Disco...

In this episode, we're joined by Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean, who shares his observations on trends in the market today. You'll learn about: What's Happening in Hospitality Today: Understand the current state of the hospitality market, including domestic and international travel trends. Consumer Behavior: Learn how the pandemic has fundamentally changed consumer behavior, drawing parallels to the Great Depression's impact on spending habits. Group and Business Travel: Discover...

In this episode, Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, joins us to share his insights on staying energized and motivated as a leader. Sloan discusses the importance of self-care and how it impacts leadership effectiveness in hospitality. Listen now to learn about: Self-Care for Leaders: Learn why you can't give what you don't have and how taking care of yourself is crucial for taking care of your team and guests. Personality Insights: Discover how Sloan's ENTJ personality type and ...

What does it take to not only spot an opportunity but to act on it so your hospitality business thrives? In this episode, we learn how that's done by exploring the expansion of Remington Hospitality under the leadership of CEO Sloan Dean. Discover how Sloan and his team identified a significant opportunity in the Caribbean and Latin American markets and executed a successful expansion there in record time. Listen now to learn about: Identifying Market Gaps: Learn how Remington Hospitality...

In this episode, we are joined by Jeff Wielgopolan, Service Director at Meadowood Napa Valley. Discover how this extraordinary property became one of only 11 hotels in the United States to receive Michelin's Three Key distinction for exceptional hospitality. What You'll Learn: First Impressions Matter: Learn how Meadowood designs its arrival experience to set the stage for an unforgettable stay. Feedback is Gold: Understand the importance of collecting and responding to guest feedback to cons...

Today, McKinsey & Company published an insightful, research-driven report on the state of tourism and hospitality. In this episode, we'll learn about the trends, market changes, and opportunities you need to know as a hospitality provider from Jasperina de Vries, one of the authors of this report. Listen now to learn about: The Current State of the Industry: Understand the global travel and hospitality industry's current state and expected trajectory. Emerging Trends: Learn about t...

In this episode, we're learning from Jeff Wielgopolan, a hospitality expert who has led learning and training for Forbes Travel Guide and is currently responsible for creating and maintaining the guest experience at Meadowood Napa Valley. Jeff shares his insights on what it takes to provide world-class hospitality and the importance of attention to detail. Listeners will learn about: World-Class Hospitality: Learn the secrets behind providing exceptional service that makes guests feel special ...

In this episode, we are joined by Dipesh Gupta, a hotel owner and operator at Shashi Group who has integrated cutting-edge technology into the guest experience, creating a truly personalized and innovative stay. (Which was profiled in a recent article from the Wall Street Journal, "Make Yourself at Home in the Hotel of the Future.") What You'll Learn: Lessons from His Career Journey: Discover how Dipesh went from an engineer in financial services and AI to a successful hotel investor and opera...

Greg Früchtenicht is the Chief Operating Officer at Saira Hospitality, and in this episode, he shares what he's learned about evaluating culture in hospitality organizations - and the big problem automation poses in the hiring process. Thoughts, questions, suggestions? Send me a text message This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. You can see what we found in this re...

In this episode we meet Joan Hull and John Phillips, the proprietors of The Parsonage, a charming urban inn located in the heart of San Francisco. This conversation is a treat as Joan and John share their journey of transforming a historic 1883 Victorian house into a beloved landmark. Listen now to learn about: The Essence of Hospitality: Discover how Joan and John embody the spirit of warm, gracious hosts and what it means to provide hospitality not just as a business, but as a way of li...

In this episode, we're learning from Szilvia Olah, an expert in employee experience design, the founder of The Strengths Company, a former leader at Accor and Jumeirah Group, and the author ofThe Blind Leading the Disengaged. You'll learn about: Employee Experience Design: Discover how to design and deliver exceptional employee experiences using principles from guest experience design. Onboarding Best Practices: Learn the importance of a well-thought-out onboarding process and how to customiz...

In this episode, we're joined by Tommy Ostrom, Chief of Staff, and Stephan Bogardus, Corporate Director of Culinary Operations at Graduate Hotels, to discuss their collaboration with the LeBron James Family Foundation in Akron, Ohio. Listeners will learn about: The inception and development of the House Three Thirty training camp program. How Graduate Hotels and the LeBron James Family Foundation aligned their missions to create impactful community initiatives. The structure and cur...

The American Hotel and Lodging Association supports hospitality providers in so many ways from education to policy work. In this episode, Kevin Carey, AHLA’s interim president & CEO, joins us to talk about two core areas they're focused on now: Green Key Global: sustainability certification to help hoteliers cater to the quickly growing number of travelers (and businesses) that prioritize this The Hospitality Show: to connect industry participants and help everyone do well together Also, be s...

How do you stand out in a world full of technology, endless content, and busy schedules? Hospitality is key, especially through events. Events offer a big opportunity for every hospitality provider. In this episode, we're learning from Gianna Gaudini, a top event producer and strategist. She’ll share her journey in the events industry, the opportunities events bring, and how hoteliers can work effectively with event planners. See Giana's book: The Art of Event Planning: Pro Tips from an Indust...

Blackberry Farm was recently named the #1 hotel in America for food and drink by Food and Wine magazine. Previously, Andy Chabot explained how they've achieved this, and then how they hire and train their teams. In this episode, Andy shares how they gather and incorporate feedback from both staff and guests to constantly improve. Thoughts, questions, suggestions? Send me a text message Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe h...

This sponsored episode from Hireology is a masterclass on hiring from Adam Robinson, CEO of Hireology, who shares his extensive knowledge on hiring great people faster in hospitality. Listeners will learn: Market Insights: Understand the market trends affecting hiring in hospitality, including demographic shifts and the increasing demand for flexible work arrangements. How to Create Effective Job Descriptions: Learn how to craft compelling job descriptions that highlight flexibility, care...